Today in history 6/28/2021

June 28th, 1914:

The event that triggered World War I took place in the Balkans in Southern Europe. A Serb nationalist assassinated Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, in what’s now Bosnia Herzegovina. The same day 5 years later, leaders signed the Versailles Treaty in France to officially end the war, which killed millions.

2000:

Elian Gonzales left the United States with his father for their native Cuba. It was the final chapter of a bitter international custody dispute over the six-year-old boy.

1997:

Boxer Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear during their WDA heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas. Tyson later said, “I just snapped, and reacted and did what many athletes have done, and have paid the price for it.”

1902:

Broadway composer Richard Rodgers was born in New York City. Among his musicals: “Oklahoma!”, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.

1926:

“I want to thank Hitler for being such a funny guy on stage.”

Mel Brooks, the comedian and movie director whose works include The Producers and Blazing Saddles, was born in New York City.